In a medium of your choosing (illustration, painting, collage, sculpture, design, etc.), create a thoughtful, artistic work. Choose from the following ideas:

Interpretation of a theme or motif from the play. Include (attached or on the back) an explanation of what your piece was hoping to convey.

Depict a scene from the play. Include (attached or on the back) an explanation of what scene you selected--and what you hoped to convey.

You may design a poster or book cover for the play. If you choose a poster, come up with an imaginary "future production" of the play (location, dates, theater company, performers, etc.). Check out authentic play posters for ideas. If you choose a book cover, include all the parts of a cover a reader would expect to see.

​Choose this option if you have some art background, experience, or enthusiasm. Do not choose the option if you're just going to print out some Microsoft WordArt and hope for the best.

Tell the story of Lee and Austin in 6 memes, three for each character. I'm looking for "original" meme images, not edited versions of current ones. In other words, don't take the meme of the guy-checking-out-the-other-girl-while-he's-walking-with-his-girlfriend one, and just slap your own words on top. You can certainly be influenced (or reference) familiar memes, just change them a little to make them your own.

Expectations:

3 meme images with words for Austin; 3 for Lee

printed in color; at least as big as half of a piece of paper

they should all reveal something about the character

they can be silly, but not "random"; in other words, don't just google a piece of toast, and write "Mmmm....toast" on it. :)

Feel free to grab stills of the production we watched on YouTube or use another image that you find or construct

Imagine you were going to put on your own production of True West. Play the role of director and create a production plan that includes the following:

​Notes on casting -- What sort of qualities would you be looking for in the actors? Feel free to mention any currently working actors who would be a good fit--if money, availability, and interest were no problem.

Notes on staging -- How would you design the set, lighting, costumes, props, sound, and makeup? Be specific where appropriate. In general, how would you want your version to "look." Feel free to change the time period or setting, as long as you keep the script in place.

Notes on directing -- What strategies would you have for the performances? Think about how you would inform your actors' decisions. Think movement, delivery of lines, attitudes, etc.

Despite our initial impressions of Austin and Lee, Shepard shows us how they both have a "double nature"--that while they may be one type of person most of the time, certain forces beyond their control reveal a whole other side of their personality. Austin might seem like a straight-laced professional type, but by the end of the play he's drunk, strangling his brother, hoping for a life out on the desert. Lee is definitely uncouth, a free spirit who answers to no one, but he still seeks the approval of his brother and thirsts for a more traditional kind of respect--one that might come from writing a screenplay.

What do you think? Do you think we all have a double nature? Are there two (or more) versions of us? Consider your own personality and other people you know really well--your friends or family.

In a thoughtful 1-2 page response, explore the idea of double natures. Show your knowledge of the play. Try out the following suggested outline:

Introduction -- start with a detailed description of Lee and Austin. Show the reader how they have dual-personalities. Be specific with your examples.

Relate the question back to your own experiences. Do you see a dual nature in your own life? Or more? Show the reader where and when this other you pops out. Include any other people in your life in this discussion.

Speak to the pros and cons of this dual nature. How does it help or hurt you (or others)? Be specific.

Conclusion -- Think about your future with these personalities. How do you imagine them changing or shifting? Weigh in on what you think it mean for Austin and Lee perhaps.

Austin and Lee start with very different approaches to living. Austin lives in the more civilized world, in that he has a job and a family and lives in the suburbs. Lee, on the other hand, lives out on the desert, connected to no one, living on his own. At one point in the play, Shepard shows us how they envy each other a little bit: Lee envies Austin's Ivy League education, his job, his connection to people; Austin envies how Lee lives on his own, answers to no one, and goes on "adventures."

Lee is closely associated with romanticism: an emphasis on individualism; spontaneity; freedom from rules; solitary life rather than life in society; the beliefs that imagination is superior to reason and devotion to beauty; love of and worship of nature; etc.

Austin is closely associated with realism: following the conventions of society; devotion to reason and logic--that things "are what they are"; a belief in pragmatism; devotion to society, to family, to community; etc.

What do you think? Are you more of a romantic--spontaneous, imaginative, your "head in the clouds"? Or are you more of a realist--logical, reasonable, your" feet firmly planted on the ground"? Or are you some combination?

Write a thoughtful 1-2 page response exploring this question. Use your own experiences and observations to answer the question. Show your knowledge of True West as well. Try this suggested outline

Introduction -- Begin with an image or line or scene from True West that demonstrates these conflicting outlooks from Austin and Lee. And/or start with a detailed description of the kinds of characters they are.

Offer your own personal take on this question. Which are you? Why? SHOW the reader how you fit one or both of these outlooks. Use specific examples from your life.

Explore the pros and cons of your beliefs. What's good about it? What's bad? Would you like to change? Have you already changed?

Conclusion -- Where do you see yourself in the future? in regards to this question? What might challenge your outlook--or change it?

Though we don't know for certain what happens to the characters after the events of the play, Austin and Lee, like classical tragic heroes, seem destined to meet the same fate as their father--unable to find happiness, constantly frustrated and angry, living alone in the desert. They seem unable to escape the influence of their upbringing.

What do you think? Is it possible to escape "the past"? Is it possible to escape your family--and its influences?

In a thoughtful 1-2 page response, write a personal essay that explores your take on this question.

Use your own experiences and observations as support.

Reference the play and its characters

Possible organization:

Specific image from the play that connects to this question -- describe a scene, a line of dialogue, show how it illustrates the inability to escape

Offer your take on this question. / What experiences and observations from your own family and/or past bring you to this conclusion?

Offer some counterargument. / In what ways is your position incomplete? What's valid about the other side of the argument?

Conclusion -- Remind your reader why this is a complex and important question. / Return to Austin and Lee. / Maybe end with your notion about what happens to them.